7 Essential Tools for Becoming Your Best Running Coach

I'd like to know the best way to become a coach. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in computer science in 2009. Because I graduated with a degree that has little to nothing to do with exercise science or physiology, to get a master's, I'd have to take six to eight prerequisite undergraduate courses to be considered for the master's program. Naturally this conflicts with having a full-time job. Should I pursue a master's in exercise science, or would it be better to go through something like the USATF training/certification program? Thanks for your help. --Justin

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Hi, Justin.

(Go Badgers!) As you've already learned, there are a lot of ways to become a running coach. Some choose to get a degree in the physical sciences (ex: physiology, exercise science, physical education), while others go the certification route. I believe the best course is the one that matches your specific interests and life schedule. That is, what kind of coach do you want to be? Do you want to work with kids or adults? Do you want to work in the educational or recreational setting? What will your lifestyle allow time-wise? Where does your passion lie?I didn't set out to become a coach. It came to me. I was the director of the Discover Card Corporate Fitness Center when I discovered my passion for running and marathoning. The employees began asking me how to train for races, and I began working with them one-on-one, and it evolved from there.

I eventually retired from the corporate world and started a training company. I have the human science degrees because that was the route my life took before I became a coach. There is no doubt that the education is an important piece in the puzzle, but I feel I've learned more about how to be a coach from the athletes I consult with daily. The learning never stops, and that is my favorite part of being a coach.Try to avoid letting the educational aspects block your focus on becoming a coach. Learn the fundamentals, and then get out there and hone your skills. Every coach is like a fingerprint. When you discover what makes you unique, you're well on your way to being the best coach you can be.

My coaching skills wouldn't thrive in the high-school, collegiate, or elite athletic environments. My passion and focus is on the everyday mortal. Start with where you are as a runner, and your path with appear.

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Educate yourself. If you have the time, the money, and the interest, a degree in exercise science will provide a solid foundation of knowledge of the human body in motion. It is also a great foundation for a full-time career in the exercise industry. However, it won't teach you much about running. For that, you can take certification courses from the Road Runners Club of America, which offers a certification for long-distance running. USA Track & Field provides several levels of certification to allow you to start as a novice coach and progress as you gain hands-on experience in track and field. Once you learn the fundamentals, you can expand your path to other areas of fitness to develop your niche; personal training, CrossFit,first aid and CPR, barefoot running, functional movement, and more. You may find your sweet spot to be runners who love karate. The world is your oyster...

Shadow a coach. I've been fortunate in my life to shadow some of the greatest coaches and movement experts in the industry. Jack Daniels taught me the essence of how to progress a runner's mileage safely and efficiently (without waste). Find a coach you admire and ask if he or she would mentor you as you build your skills and learn your way.

Read, watch, and continue to learn. What was true ten years ago when I was coaching isn't true now. Read magazines and books, and watch videos online. Find trusted resources to obtain the information, but then develop your own voice. Just because it's written doesn't mean it's true. Test things out with your runners. Listen, watch, and learn what works in your neck of the woods. It may not match up to what you're reading. Cross-training was a significant element in my coaching in the early '90s, because I came from the fitness world and I knew the tremendous benefits. Yet, that wasn't written or talked about much in the running industry.

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Volunteer and create your own path. Many schools are looking for assistants for their running programs. If you want to work with adults, ask your local running store, club, or gym about helping out. If they don't have a program, create one! (That is how I got my start.)

Practice with your friends. We all have to start somewhere...once you have your base of knowledge, volunteer your time to coach a few of your friends who are looking for help. Be transparent with where you are and why you're doing it, and put it out into the world. You'll be amazed at what happens next, and that will begin to help you carve out your coaching niche. Go with who you are attracting rather than seeking out people you aren't. For example, it would be silly for me to dial up Kara Goucher and ask to help her train. That's not my niche. Put yourself out there and see who follows.

Be authentic. When I first started coaching, I was terrified I would be asked a question I didn't know the answer to. Well, turns out that happened on the very first day! I learned to be transparent and let my athletes know I didn't have the answer to their great question, but I'd get back to them with one in the near future. And this, my friends, is how you learn as a coach. You can study for hours for an exam, but you can't predict which questions will be asked on the roads. Be open. Be honest. Be you.

Learn a new activity. In order to be a great coach, you need to have compassion and be fully aware of the energy your runner brings. I've found that taking a class or course in something I have no idea how to do is a great way to get in tune with the emotional aspects of coaching anything. It's humbling, and it also teaches you a variety of ways to educate people. I took a motorcycle course several years ago, and when I walked into the classroom, I was a bit stunned to see the room was full of 18-year boys and moi! To say I was nervous was an understatement, but it allowed me to tap into the feelings that many first-time runners experience in their first few sessions. Continue to re-focus your coaching lens and you'll continue to learn, grow, and become the best coach you can be. Good luck!

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Happy Trails.

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